Kay7979
FANTASY NOVEL AUTHOR
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2004
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Disney plans to introduce a modified version of the Free Dining plan. The new plan is awaiting final approval from Disney board members, but is said to solve a number of flaws in the current program and is likely to win approval.
Most consumer complaints involved the difficulty of eating a large lunch, snacks, and an evening meal that typically includes an appetizer and dessert. Respondents participating in a marketing survey told Disney representatives that this was, Just too much food.
The main flaw in the original plan from Disneys standpoint was that there was a tendency for customers to select the most expensive offerings on the menu in order to maximize the benefits of the Free Dining plan. This posed challenges in keeping the plan economically viable. A Disney spokesperson who requested that his name not be divulged lamented, There is a group on the internet known as The DIS that encouraged their membership to study the menus, and with the aide of calculators and spreadsheets, determine the highest dollar value that can be achieved with the Free Dining program.
Compromises that Disney found unavoidable in order to save the Free Dining plan from extinction included the elimination of many menu items, and a more standardized Bill of Fare among the various participating restaurants. These changes, however, were only a temporary solution according to Disney. Broad and sweeping changes were necessary.
Although the proposed changes have not yet been officially approved, the basic outline of a new more equitable Free Dining plan renamed, Meal of Fortune, is as follows:
Guests participating in the Meal of Fortune plan will be able to choose any restaurant participating in the plan, but they will not be able to choose a specific menu item. Upon checking in with a confirmed reservation at the hostess station, a Cast Member on duty will lead the guests to the Meal of Fortune Wheel. There, each person dining will spin to determine the meal they will be served. If on the first spin the pointer lands on a Bonus or Wild Card Space, the diner will be awarded either an appetizer or a dessert, in addition to their meal, and will get a second spin to determine their meal prize. When the pointer lands on a Prize Space, the meal shown on that space will be awarded.
Meals fall into three color categories, Gold, Silver or Bronze. Gold meal spaces will feature a dinner such as New York Strip Steak or Grilled Pork Tenderloin. Silver meal spaces feature lighter fare such as Beef Stew, or Fish and Chips. Bronze meal space awards consist of meals such as yesterdays leftover Soup dJour with Fried Bologna and Rutabaga Sandwich, or Creamed Beets with Fricassee of Woodchuck.
The Meal of Fortune wheel also contains Penalty Spaces. Penalty Spaces will entitle the diner to a Free Spin to obtain a meal award, but the diner will be required after diner to bus tables for one hour as the Penalty. There is also a space on the wheel noted Bankrupt. When the pointer lands on this space, the diner does not receive a second spin for a dinner award, and is required to buy dinner for the all the members of the last family that was seated in the restaurant. Standard menu prices will apply, reimbursable immediately to Disney. Children under the age of seven are exempt from the Bankrupt Space penalty.
The unnamed Disney spokesperson admitted that the new Meal of Fortune plan eliminates the ability to chose ones own meal, but in his words, Beggars cant be choosers. At least youre getting a free meal so that ought to count for something. And even the Value Meals like the Woodchuck Fricassee are served piping hot with a sprig of parsley garnish. First Class all the way.
The new Meal of Fortune plan is rumored to be available by summer of 2007 if approved by Disneys board of directors. Final details of the plan will be officially released by Disney as soon as they are available.
Most consumer complaints involved the difficulty of eating a large lunch, snacks, and an evening meal that typically includes an appetizer and dessert. Respondents participating in a marketing survey told Disney representatives that this was, Just too much food.
The main flaw in the original plan from Disneys standpoint was that there was a tendency for customers to select the most expensive offerings on the menu in order to maximize the benefits of the Free Dining plan. This posed challenges in keeping the plan economically viable. A Disney spokesperson who requested that his name not be divulged lamented, There is a group on the internet known as The DIS that encouraged their membership to study the menus, and with the aide of calculators and spreadsheets, determine the highest dollar value that can be achieved with the Free Dining program.
Compromises that Disney found unavoidable in order to save the Free Dining plan from extinction included the elimination of many menu items, and a more standardized Bill of Fare among the various participating restaurants. These changes, however, were only a temporary solution according to Disney. Broad and sweeping changes were necessary.
Although the proposed changes have not yet been officially approved, the basic outline of a new more equitable Free Dining plan renamed, Meal of Fortune, is as follows:
Guests participating in the Meal of Fortune plan will be able to choose any restaurant participating in the plan, but they will not be able to choose a specific menu item. Upon checking in with a confirmed reservation at the hostess station, a Cast Member on duty will lead the guests to the Meal of Fortune Wheel. There, each person dining will spin to determine the meal they will be served. If on the first spin the pointer lands on a Bonus or Wild Card Space, the diner will be awarded either an appetizer or a dessert, in addition to their meal, and will get a second spin to determine their meal prize. When the pointer lands on a Prize Space, the meal shown on that space will be awarded.
Meals fall into three color categories, Gold, Silver or Bronze. Gold meal spaces will feature a dinner such as New York Strip Steak or Grilled Pork Tenderloin. Silver meal spaces feature lighter fare such as Beef Stew, or Fish and Chips. Bronze meal space awards consist of meals such as yesterdays leftover Soup dJour with Fried Bologna and Rutabaga Sandwich, or Creamed Beets with Fricassee of Woodchuck.
The Meal of Fortune wheel also contains Penalty Spaces. Penalty Spaces will entitle the diner to a Free Spin to obtain a meal award, but the diner will be required after diner to bus tables for one hour as the Penalty. There is also a space on the wheel noted Bankrupt. When the pointer lands on this space, the diner does not receive a second spin for a dinner award, and is required to buy dinner for the all the members of the last family that was seated in the restaurant. Standard menu prices will apply, reimbursable immediately to Disney. Children under the age of seven are exempt from the Bankrupt Space penalty.
The unnamed Disney spokesperson admitted that the new Meal of Fortune plan eliminates the ability to chose ones own meal, but in his words, Beggars cant be choosers. At least youre getting a free meal so that ought to count for something. And even the Value Meals like the Woodchuck Fricassee are served piping hot with a sprig of parsley garnish. First Class all the way.
The new Meal of Fortune plan is rumored to be available by summer of 2007 if approved by Disneys board of directors. Final details of the plan will be officially released by Disney as soon as they are available.
Ditto for me. 
